Review: Warped Don Reynaldo

Warped Cigars and Kyle Gellis made a big splash at the 2014 IPCPR. Their booth was organized in such a way that it was hard to believe it wasn’t their 4th or 5th IPCPR. Their cigars soon starting showing up on a significant number of top 10 cigar lists including my own. When the Don Reynaldo was announced in late 2014 I made it my goal to get my hands on some.

The Warped Don Reynaldo is an extremely limited 100 number release of 10 count boxes and will be available in a single Corona De Luxe (5-1/2”x42) vitola.

Don Reynaldo is a tribute marca to my father, who taught me about cigars since I was a little kid. Growing up he taught me about cigars and the lifestyle that accompanied them. From construction issues, flavor profiles, proper way to cut and light, to the art itself, my passion would not have been ignited if it wasn’t for him. I wanted to thank and honor him for all the support he has given me and blend a cigar that combined the flavor profiles he loved.

Wrapper: Dominican Corojo

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: 75% Dominican, 25% Nicaraguan

Factory: El Titan de Bronze

Cigars Smoked for this Review: One

Price Point: $14 MSRP

Quick Note: For this review I used Logan’s rating system. You can view it in detail here.

“Kyle Gellis has really created a cigar masterpiece with the Warped Don Reynaldo.”

Surgeon’s Rating: 94 AKA “Box Purchase”

The nose on the Don Reynaldo was medium strength pepper, some cedar and sweet clover. Off the foot I was definitely getting honey. The dry draw was quite light with hay and pepper.

The first third starts with hay and very light pepper with some sweet creamy notes that carry to the end of the draw. The retrohale has a more intense medium strength pepper. My initial impressions here are a Cuban-esque profile but with a balanced component of spices and pepper. The pepper on the draw finishes in the nose and lingers, while the sweet creaminess tends to coat the tongue.

At about the halfway point of the first third there is a mixture of chlorophyll and clover that is introduced into the retrohale. I also start to pick up a citrus note at the end of the draw.

The second third has some leather and tropical fruit notes, with the pepper having fallen off. The citrus at the end of the draw in the first is still present in the retrohale.

It’s interesting to see how much the profile has shifted between the first and second third especially given the small ring gauge being worked with. As the Don Reynaldo moves to the last third there is another sharp transition to a toasted nut and cedar combination.

The tropical fruit I was picking up at the start of the second third has fallen off entirely by the time the last third starts up. The flavors here are nuttiness, a thick sweet creamy component which is only strong on the retrohale. There is some leather that is introduced to finish each draw.

Kyle Gellis has really created a cigar masterpiece with the Warped Don Reynaldo. I’m not sure whether this was rolled with powdered Unicorn horn and capped with Angel tears, but this is going to be the cigar to beat for me for the rest of 2015.

With only 100 boxes available, you owe it to yourself to try the Don Reynaldo while it’s still available. Something special like this doesn’t come around too often.

I’m looking forward to what Kyle and Warped Cigars has in store for the rest of 2015.

Pairing Recommendation:

The Don Reynaldo is reasonably delicate on the flavor profile so a lighter whisky, perhaps bourbon aged, or some rum would go really well.